BaL 4.02.17 - Rossini: The Barber of Seville

[vinteuil]

Hi Vin
Where did you find the winner for £5, it seems to be quite expensive in most places?

... I got mine from an amazon seller - for £2-79 plus p&p.

Amazon still seems to have some from about £8 -

http://amzn.eu/5UV4UAu

[mikealdren]

Well done, I paid about £10 and thought I had done well!

[Cockney Sparrow]

I spent a delightful afternoon at the Royal Opera H. yesterday. Not sure I would have chosen the Barber for myself only, but we'd suggested it as something which would appeal to friends. I'm glad I went - really very strong all round. I agree with all the positive points in the Guardian review - but didn't identify the Bartolo as a weaker element of a strong cast, nor that direction had occasional shortcomings. (There again, although an enthusiast, I am neverless - it seems - more easily pleased than some).

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/feb/03/the-barber-of-seville-review-royal-opera-house-london-terfel-akhmetshinapayare

p.s. Payare's eloquent and vivacious conducting technique can be observed very clearly as he is visible above the pit from about lower rib level. (As he has a "partially restrained" afro hair style, I hope those few people behind him in the front rows of the stalls managed to appreciate him (and the show).

pps: Another review:

https://www.culturewhisper.com/r/opera/royal_opera_house_rossini_the_barber_of_seville_2023_review/17349

[kuligin]

I attended the same performance, 12noon is a strange time though I thought, and totally agree it was a splendid performance without a weak link, I thought the Bartolo was very good but the best was Akhmetshina as Rosina, I thought she was outstanding. I even enjoyed Terfel, a singer who has disappointed in the past in Wagner and Mussorgsky, but here he was in his element, quite the loudest Basilio ever.

[Master Jacques]

Agreed about Ian Wallace: if you only know him from My Music and Flanders and Swann it's easy to miss the fact that he had a successful career on the operatic stage.

He certainly did. If anyone is interested to find out more about Ian Wallace, there's a very good entry (by Andrew Lamb) in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, which is information-rich about his career. You'll need a local Library Card to access the article, though:

https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-102342?rskey=LJMggP&result=1

[LHC]

I attended the same performance, 12noon is a strange time though I thought, and totally agree it was a splendid performance without a weak link, I thought the Bartolo was very good but the best was Akhmetshina as Rosina, I thought she was outstanding. I even enjoyed Terfel, a singer who has disappointed in the past in Wagner and Mussorgsky, but here he was in his element, quite the loudest Basilio ever.

I was there too and agree it was a fabulous performance by all, but especially Akhmetshina, who was simply wonderful. I’m actually going again on Thursday and am really looking forward to seeing it again.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I was there too and agree it was a fabulous performance by all, but especially Akhmetshina, who was simply wonderful. I’m actually going again on Thursday and am really looking forward to seeing it again.

It will be relayed to cinemas on Wednesday 15th February (and a reprise in some a few days later):

https://www.roh.org.uk/cinemas/production/51315/findcinema

[JasonPalmer]

I enjoyed the opera when eno performed it and enjoyed the Chandos opera in English cd version.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rossini-Barber-Seville-Opera-English/dp/B00004GOWZ